Monroeville area: Super bingo, library trivia night, more

Email news briefs and event listings to pvarine@triblive.com or bpoole@triblive.com.

Bingo at Divine Mercy Academy

Divine Mercy Academy will host a super bingo at 6:45 p.m. Oct. 19 at Christ the Divine Shepherd Church, 245 Azalea Drive in Monroeville.

Tickets are $30 and include 10 rounds of regular bingo, three specials and one jackpot. Extra bingo boards are available. Pull tabs, 50/50 and basket auctions will also be available throughout the evening. Doors open at 5:45 p.m.

For more, email saflaherty625@gmail.com.

Hockey program seeks players

The Gateway Ice Hockey Club is seeking youth players in kindergarten through sixth grade to join its developmental program, which starts Oct. 20 at Palmer Imaging Arena, 100 Center Ice Drive, Salem.

No prior playing experience is necessary and the club can provide loaner starter equipment. Players do not have to reside in the Gateway School District.

For more, email gatewaydevohockey@gmail.com.

Trivia Night at the library

Friends of the Monroeville Public Library will host Trivia Night from 7 to 9 p.m. on Oct. 19 at the library. Doors open at 6 p.m.

The after-hours event is for those age 21 and older.

A cash prize of $100 will be given for the first place team and $50 for second place.

Light refreshments and beverages are included in the ticket price. There will be a bake sale. Tickets for raffle baskets and a 50/50 drawing will be available for purchase.

For more information on ticket pricing, table options and to purchase tickets, visit the circulation desk or monroevillelibrary.org.

The library is at 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd.

Pancake breakfast

Garden City United Methodist Church will host a pancake breakfast and bake sale from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 26.

The all-you-can-eat breakfast costs $9 for adults and $4 for children ages 4-12. Children under 3 years old are free.

The church is at 500 Laurel Drive in Monroeville.

AARP meeting scheduled

Plum AARP will hold its monthly meeting at noon on Oct. 8. at Unity Community Church, 215 Unity Trestle Road, Plum.

The guest will be Donna Groom, who sings with the Skyliners. Donations will be accepted for Christmas gifts for residents of the Veterans’ Hospital in Aspinwall. After the meeting, hot dogs and chips are available for $3. Cake, coffee and tea are free.

Plum AARP is a social organization open to residents of Plum, Penn Hills, Monroeville and surrounding communities. Meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month, except June, at noon at the church. Dues are $15 per year.

Two hot dog lunches are served each year, and the club hosts a Christmas Party, May Luncheon and August social. There is entertainment or a speaker at each meeting.

The club also offers one-day or longer trips via Thomas Tours or Louise Grassi’s Tours. Newcomers are welcome at the monthly meetings. For more information, call Mary Lou at 724 327-8265.

PALS to meet, collect items for shelter

The Plum Area Ladies Society (PALS) will hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Plum Community Center, 499 Center New Texas Road.

The annual dues of $25 can be paid at the meeting.

The speaker will be Joe Giuffre from Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala’s office. He will address the group about fraud.

The service project will be to provide the Alle-Kiski Area Hope Center, a women’s shelter, with clothing and personal hygiene items.

Items needed include new pajamas, underwear, socks and slippers. Gently used winter clothing also will be accepted, especially coats, leggings and sweatshirts, as well as clothing for school-age children from kindergarten through third grade. Also needed are personal hygiene items, such as bath gel, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and cleaning products.

The Ladies Day Out will be an Oktoberfest observance at Old Thunder Brewing taproom in Blawnox, with pizza and food trucks nearby. This will take place at noon Oct. 5. Further details and sign-up will be available at the meeting.

PALS is a service and social club open to residents of Plum, Penn Hills, Monroeville and the surrounding communities. Newcomers are welcome at monthly meetings, which are held at the Plum Community Center on the first Wednesday of the month, September through April.

For details, call Mary Lou at 724 327-8265.

Tips on self-publishing

Monroeville author Leslie Savisky will host a talk on self-publishing at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Monroeville Public Library.

Savisky is a freelance writer for the Times Express and Pittsburgh Parent magazine, and is the author of three self-published novels.

She will discuss her personal writing journey, an overview of Amazon Kindle’s Direct Publishing and IngramSpark, helpful website and apps, marketing your books and gaining exposure as an independent author, and the pros and cons of self-publishing.

Registration is recommended by calling 412-372-0500, ext. 122 or emailing littlec2@einetwork.net.

The library is at 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd.

Public welcome at church events

Hillcrest Presbyterian Church, 1622 James St., Monroeville, invites the public to the following free, all-ages events:

Oct. 18 - Friday Night Hot Dog Roast: From 6:30 - 8 p.m., families are invited to bring their lawn chairs, sit back and relax outside the church. The evening will include music, a campfire, hot dogs and s’mores.

Oct. 20 - “Powerful Songs for a Powerful God”: Directed by Lynn DeFalco, this concert will feature the Hillcrest Community Choir, Andrew Boag, Charelle Unique, Robert Herold and Frank and Lois Clark.

For more information, call the church at 412-824-5600.

ESCA fundraiser

East Suburban Citizen Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that promotes and supports people with developmental disabilities, will host an Oct. 19 fundraiser at the YMCA of Laurel Highlands in East Huntingdon.

The fundraiser will be led by artist Gabi Nastuck of Miss Gabi’s Art is Good Studio, and is open to people of all ages and abilities. Participants will learn how to create a fall painting of a pumpkin. Sessions will be at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the YMCA, 490 Bessemer Road.

The registration cost is $40 and includes all painting supplies and light refreshments. Proceeds benefits ESCA’s programs, which are free to those with disabilities in Westmoreland and eastern Allegheny counties.

To register, see EastSuburbanCitizenAdvocacy.org/events and click on the Oct. 19 event link.

Blood donors sought for fall drive

The American Red Cross is encouraging donors of all blood types and platelets, especially those who have never donated before, to consider doing so in the month of October.

According to the Red Cross, only three out of 100 Americans donate blood. Donations are critical to keep the blood supply stable during the fall months.

Donations of all blood types — particularly those with type O, the most transfused type — are needed.

Anyone who donates through Oct. 31 will receive a $10 Amazon gift card by email and will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of three $5,000 gift cards. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Treat.

To make an appointment, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767).

Prospective donors also can enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or to seek more information.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 and older in most states, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.

Gingerbread house contest

Registration for the 22nd annual City of Pittsburgh Gingerbread House Competition is now open at www.pittsburghpa.gov/gingerbread through 11:59 p.m. Nov. 10.

The CitiParks Office of Special Events welcomes entries from individuals, schools, communities, nonprofits and professionals from Allegheny County and beyond.

The competition started in 2002 with downtown Pittsburgh hotels to benefit the Children’s Hospital Free Care Fund. It since has attracted thousands of entries and visitors to PPG Place before moving to the City-County Building in 2019.

The Office of Special Events also recently announced a new partnership with Clearview Federal Credit Union to present the city’s official holiday events, including the gingerbread contest and the 109th Tree Lighting Ceremony to illuminate the only live holiday tree in Downtown Pittsburgh.

This year’s gingerbread display at the City County Building will open with a ceremony Nov. 22, with the entries remaining on view for Light Up Night on Nov. 23 through early January. In addition to 19 categories, participants will be eligible for overall awards such as “Clearview Choice,” as voted on by Clearview representatives, and “Curator’s Choice,” which will be selected by Carnegie Museum of Art staff.

For details about the gingerbread contest, visit pittsburghpa.gov/gingerbread, email specialevents@pittsburghpa.gov or follow @pgheventsoffice on social media.

Rotary offering need-based scholarships

The Bob Williams Rotary Memorial Scholarship Program is accepting applications from high school seniors and GED students for 2024-25.

This year, eight need-based scholarships at $5,000 each will be awarded.

The scholarships are open to students in Allegheny and Beaver counties, as well as those attending New Kensington-Arnold, Kiski Area and Burrell Area high schools and The Kiski School in Westmoreland County. Vocational students, GED students and those attending parochial, charter and private schools also are eligible.

Students must have a 2.5 or higher GPA and must complete an essay highlighting their community/school service.

Complete application and criteria materials are available on the website of Rotary District 7305 at https://rotarydistrict7305.org/scholarships.php or from area high school counselors.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 28. Applications postmarked after that date will not be accepted.

For details, email Robert Arbuckle, chairperson of the scholarship committee, at rarbuckl@yahoo.com.